[Jesse's POV]
(Once we entered the building, we were immediately greeted by the smell of books.)
(it reminded me of Ivor's basement and that library room back at the temple.)
Gabriel: "So... many... books...!"
Soren: "Yep, it's Ivor's place alright. I wouldn't be surprised if this entire house is just a library."
(Unsurprisingly, all we could see from here were just more bookshelves, more shelves, and a few potions on top of those shelves.)
Olivia: "Wait, we should be careful! This place could be booby-trapped. Remember what happened back at the temple?"
Jesse: "Most traps are activated by pressure plates, are they not? Just watch where you're going and you should be fine."
Olivia: "*sigh* I guess..."
(We all silently nodded at each other before splitting up.)
(We all head to a different shelf to start the search.)
(I pick a random one and start looking through the different book covers.)
(A Brief History of Cubism... Crafting for Noobs, Revised... A Collector's Guide to Precious Gems... And on and on and on... God.)
(I really hope the Enchantment book glows, because it would be a pain to individually look through every single book.)
(Maybe it's my bad luck, but the shelf I chose didn't end up having anything useful.)
(It's been a few minutes already, so I decided to check on the others to see how they've been doing.)
(Lukas was the closest to me, so I went to him first.)
Jesse: "Hey Lukas. Having any luck?"
Lukas: "No. Just... been thinking about other stuff, actually."
(Lukas closes the book he was holding and puts it back on the shelf.)
Jesse: "Stuff such as...?"
Lukas: "You know. Gabriel. The Ocelots... people getting wither sickness and amnesia... *sigh* Don't get me wrong; I'm glad I came with you, I just -- I'm just scared for everyone."
Jesse: "Lukas, don't worry so much. We know Petra and Axel are stronger than we'd think. They'll make it through. I'm sure everyone else can too."
Lukas: "I know what you're trying to say, but I just can't ignore that feeling, you know? I mean, we keep telling ourselves that, but who knows what can happen?"
Jesse: "Lukas... hang in there... Remember what I said back then?"
Lukas: "I know Jesse. I'm trying to think like that too, but... it's kinda hard not to think about it."
(I try my best to make everyone feel better, but it's been getting harder to do that as more days pass by.)
(It's not like I'm feeling better than anyone else.)
(After going through this journey, I, too, have second guesses sometimes.)
(Even though I try my best to not let that hopeless feeling take over me, it still lingers at the back of my head.)
(Still, I have to try and stay positive.)
(I desperately try to steer away from the subject.)
Jesse: "Well, it can't be harder than looking through a million books, though, right?"
(Lukas suddenly realizes what we've been supposed to do the entire time.)
Lukas: "Oh, right..."
(We return to the bookshelf, lazily picking out random ones in hopes of finding the right one.)
Lukas: "Jeez, with the amount of books stuffed into this room, you could live through your entire life and still not be halfway through reading everything. Does he ever go outside?"
Jesse: "Books were his only friends... I guess..."
Lukas: "I guess being an angry loner leaves you a lot of time to read. Man, I didn't know this day would come, but I kind of feel a little bad for him now?"
Jesse: "Well, that day certainly hasn't come for me yet. How come you forgive him so easily?"
Lukas: "I'm not saying I forgave him for what he did. It's just that people don't just become like this, you know? Maybe if we tried to understand him better, then maybe it wouldn't have turned out as badly as it is now..."
Jesse: "Mmm... I guess you've got a point, but that's all in the past already. It's not like we can change it anymore."
Lukas: "...I guess..."
(With no sign of the enchantment book anywhere, we decide to change shelves.)
Jesse: "Urgh, you know, this would've been a million times easier if these books weren't so unorganized."
(I know I'm not any better at that, but don't tell anyone that....)
Lukas: "Heh, tell me about it."
(Lukas fishes out a column of books.)
Lukas: "How to Train Your Slime... The Various Uses of Mooshroom Stew... Potion-ology, Volume 24...!?"
Jesse: "Eh, I'll go try my luck on a different shelf."
Lukas: "Ok, see you around."
(I wave back in response.)
(I decide to head further to the back of the building.)
[Meanwhile - Soren's POV]
Gabriel: "Have you found anything yet?"
(I let out a grunt.)
Soren: "No! It's as though Ivor learned nothing from my lectures on organizational methodology! There's neither rhyme nor reason to how these books are stored. It's all a giant mess! Finding anything here is impossible!"
(I threw the book I was holding to the side in anger.)
Gabriel: "Calm down! You're making an even bigger mess by throwing books everywhere!"
Soren: "*sigh* If only he hadn't tried to fight that cursed witch, he could just tell us where the book is! That bastard thought nothing through, did he?!"
Gabriel: "Now, now, there's no need for excessive language. It can't be that hard to find a glowing book?"
Soren: "Is that supposed to make me feel better?! What if he purposely made it so that the book doesn't glow anymore? That bastard always had tricks up his sleeve; it wouldn't be impossible if he found a way to make that happen!"
(Gabriel sighs loudly.)
Gabriel: "Maybe we should change shelves once again?"
Soren: "I highly doubt it would change anything."
(Gabriel, tired from the search, turns around to view the potions on the shelves.)
Gabriel: "You know... Ivor... was his name? I'm recalling that he knew something about potions."
Soren: "Oh yeah, he's obsessed with those things; it was like the only other
hobby he had other than reading... and stealing."
Gabriel: "Could one of these help us stop those Wither Monsters?"
Soren: "I highly doubt it. I'm not an expert, but I know that those are just useless speed potions that make you run slightly faster. But I doubt those are
even enough to outrun the Wither Storm on foot. And those strength potions?"
(I point to the second row of bottles.)
Soren: "Those just barely make you stronger. Sure, you can mow down almost all mobs, but against the Wither? ZERO chance, and I'm only talking about the normal variant. You have better chances of spotting a baby zombie riding a chicken than defeating the Wither Storm with that potion."
Gabriel: "Hm... can you spot any potion that, by chance, can remove my amnesia? If a potion can't end the Wither Storm, at least it can help us get in better shape."
(Even though I already knew the answer beforehand, I still took the time to search around the place.)
(not because I was unsure but because I didn't want to look like I wasn't trying.)
Soren: "Nope. None of these would help with your amnesia."
Gabriel: "Ah, well, that's a disappointment..."
Soren: "I'm not even sure if such a potion exists. Ivor is a master at brewing, but he's not a wizard."
Gabriel: "Ah, well, I guess we better continue searching."
Soren: "Argh, we won't get anywhere if we keep staring at those annoying shelves! Ivor isn't the kind of guy to just throw his most valuable inventions in with all of the other items, where he himself has to search in order to find them again. I'm starting to doubt if searching these shelves will even get us anywhere!"
Gabriel: "But what else do you propose we do? There's nowhere else to hide things!"
(I ignored Gabriel and just thought for a second.)
(Come on... I know Ivor better than anyone else; there's got to be another hiding spot...)
Soren: "Wait!"
Gabriel: "What? What did you figure out?!"
Soren: "Not the kind of guy to just throw in his most valuable inventions with all of the other items. That's it! The Enchantment book isn't on any of these shelves! That would be too obvious! The truth is, the shelves are actually a distraction! There must be some other room or area we haven't explored yet!"
(I run back to a particular place we've been already, but I haven't searched there intently enough.)
(This house has been all but bookshelves, potions on display, and glowstone lighting the place.)
(However, there has been something out of place here that we haven't been paying attention to.)
(At the VERY back of the building was a
lone fireplace, or, uh, a lavafall-place, you might say.)
Soren: "Say, Gabriel, that opening there looks suspiciously big enough for a person to fit through, right?"
(Gabriel stares at the lavafall intently
Gabriel: "I guess it does?"
Soren: "It does, doesn't it? And if I'm correct."
(I looked around the area, and then I found it.)
(A hidden hole in the wall behind a bookshelf.)
(I looked into that opening; there was a redstone circuit going into the hole.)
Soren: "This is it. That's how the lavafall opens."
Gabriel: "You do have a point, but how do we activate it?"
(In response to that question, I broke off a piece of a shelf nearby.)
Gabriel: "W-What are you doing?!"
Soren: "Oh, please. Ivor can file his complaints later. I just need wood and stone to make a lever. Care to break a block from the stone floor for me?"
Gabriel: "Uhhh, I guess."
(Gabriel follows my instructions, and after he gives me the block, I successfully craft the lever and place it into the redstone circuit.)
(And as soon as I switch the lever, as expected, the lavafall starts to fall down.)
(revealing a staircase behind the fireplace and going further down to an area we haven't been to yet.)
Gabriel: "A secret passageway... hmmm..."
Soren: "There it is. That's the way to the enchantment book."
[Around the same time - Jesse's POV]
(I stumble into Olivia, who was searching another identical bookshelf.)
Jesse: "Olivia, any luck?"
Olivia: "Not really. Ivor has too many books, and there are too few of us looking. How did we end up all split up like this? I feel like we're spreading ourselves too thin..."
Jesse: "Yeah... but we couldn't take everyone here. This journey could've done more harm to Petra than good. And if no one steered the Wither Storm away, we would've still been chased by that thing."
Olivia: "Yeah, I know... but I just miss how things used to be. That first night we all spent together? That was... kinda fun. Almost."
Jesse: "Look, we might be spread thin, but we're all still a team. That's how teams work."
Olivia: "Hey, you almost said 'teamwork."
Jesse: "See? We're still funny. And we can still get things done!"
Olivia: "I guess being split up just means we can be in more places at once, right?"
Jesse: "Yeah! It's not like we're in a horror story, so there are no disadvantages, right?"
Olivia: "Ehhh, I don't know. How many people are even left in our group again?"
Jesse: "Huh? Let's see... Me, you, Reuben, Soren, Gabriel, and, oh, Lukas too. 6 people (Reuben was also counted)."
Olivia: "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask about that."
Jesse: "Huh? About that?"
Olivia: "I overheard you and Lukas a little back at the cave. He's not gonna leave us too, right?"
Jesse: "No, for a moment back then, I thought so too, but I convinced him to
stay..."
Olivia: "Glad you talked him out of it. He's smart; I like having him around."
Jesse: "Yeah, me too; wait... what did you mean by that comment?"
(Olivia's face suddenly turns into a smirk again, like I've fallen into some kind of trap of hers.)
Olivia: "Hm? What's with that face~? Is somebody jealous-?"
Jesse: "Hah!? I-I didn't think anything!"
(Olivia laughs out loud.)
Jesse: "SHHHH. Don't let the others hear it!"
Olivia: "Sorry, sorry! I couldn't resist!"
Jesse: "Olivia...! When I meant with the mean-spirited energetic tone, I didn't mean it like that!"
Olivia: "What? I thought you were specifically talking about that! You said to be like how I used to be, so I am doing it now!"
Jesse: "No, no, no! Not right now! Also, keep down!"
(Olivia eventually calms. herself down after a lot of effort.)
Olivia: "Sorry, I just need to do something fun to keep me sane."
Jesse: "Tsk."
(I cross my arms.)
Olivia: "Sooooo, Jesse. How are things going with Lukas~?"
Jesse: "D-Do I have to tell right now???"
Olivia: "You said you would wait for the right time, so did you find that right 'time'?"
Jesse: "Eeeeerrr... Well... we did become friends...?"
Olivia: "Really??? You got friend-zoned???"
Jesse: "Well... uh... I... no... This is all new to me, okay?! I'm just trying to get closer to him. I don't want to move too fast. I'm anxious that going too quickly will ruin things. I'm so scared of messing up, I just can't do any bigger moves than that..."
Olivia: "Jesse... I guess it's not a bad thing to just take things slow. But, are you even sure if he's into you? Do you even know if he's into guys or not?"
Jesse: "Oh... oh shit I didn't think of that."
Olivia: "JESSE. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT?! YOU HAD ONE JOB."
Jesse: "I'M SORRY!!! I'M JUST TRYING MY BEST."
(Olivia holds my mouth shut.)
(It took me a second to realize that I'd raised my voice.)
(Crap. I hope no one heard that. That would be embarrassing.)
Olivia: "Jesse. Do you think you'll find the courage to ask that?"
Jesse: "Well... I don't know... Maybe?"
Olivia: "Do you want me to ask him?"
Jesse: "W-What?!"
Olivia: "Don't look at me like that! You're the one who's trying to get closer to him! Do you want me to help?"
Jesse: "Uhhhh... maybe later...?"
Olivia: "Jesse I know how you act. You'll just keep pushing 'later' farther and farther into the future. Can I trust you that 'later' will come before the end of time?"
Jesse: "Urgh..."
(Olivia has me cornered. But thinking about it, if I never make the move, my dream will never come true.)
(So for once, I mustered up the courage.)
Jesse: "Yeah, ask him. Just don't be too obvious, okay?!"
Olivia: "No promises for the last part!"
Jesse: "H-Hey! Don't be like that!"
(Olivia giggles.)
Olivia: "Fine. I'll try."
Jesse: "...Thanks. I really appreciate it."
Olivia: "No problem! Say, what kind of things do you like about him?"
Jesse: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Olivia: "Is it the looks? How smart he is? How funny he is? The way he looks at you? His butt?"
Jesse: "Shush... well... I can't describe it exactly... I just like someone who can be there for you when you need them to. It's not often that you find someone who genuinely cares about you. And well, I would be lying to myself if I said it wasn't also because of his looks... He does have a cute face... and excellent hair."
(Olivia looks over my shoulder. I turn to see what shes looking at, and to my surprise, Lukas is standing right around the corner.)
(looking in the other direction, presumably focusing on the bookshelf he's searching.)
(Oh, god, I REALLY hope our conversation wasn't too loud.)
Olivia: "You're right. He does have good hair, doesn't he?"
(We both silently chuckle.)
Olivia: "See? This is why we get along so well."
Jesse: "Yeah, it really reminds me of the old times, doesn't it?"
Olivia: "Yeah. Those were the times..."
(We sit in silence for a while.)
Jesse: "Man, we really should go back to searching, shouldn't we?"
(Olivia nods.)
(However, before we get to do that, Reuben suddenly interrupts us.)
Jesse: "Huh? What's the matter this time?"
(Reuben signals us to follow him.)
(The squeal was loud enough for Lukas to hear it too.)
Lukas: "What's going on?"
Jesse: "I think Reuben found something; let's go!"
(We follow Reuben to the back of the building, where Gabriel and Soren were standing in front of a fireplace.)
(but there was an opening where the fire should be?)
Soren: "About time you people arrived, we found a secret passage."
Lukas: "Why would you build a secret passage in a house nobody ever visits?"
Jesse: "More like, why WOULDN'T you? Secret passageways are cool!"
Lukas: "Good point."
(We start walking down the stairs, with me in front.)
Soren: "WAIT JESSE, WATCH-"
(Before I could react, I accidentally stepped on a tripwire, and shortly after, the opening behind us started to close.)
Lukas: "JESSE!"
(Since the stairs weren't big, only one person could fit through at a given time, and Lukas, Olivia, and Gabriel weren't on the other side yet.)
(The wall closes in and separates the group once again.)
(With me, Reuben, and Soren stuck in the secret passageway and Lukas, Olivia, and Gabriel still outside.)
Soren: "That buffoon! How could Ivor be so stupid and place a trap in his OWN secret passage?!"
Jesse: "Wait! Let's just mine through the wall!"
Gabriel: "WAIT DON'T! THE LAVA IS POURING DOWN AGAIN!"
(Damn it!)
Jesse: "Are you guys at least okay?"
(I yell through the wall.)
Olivia: "We're fine! But the lever isn't working anymore! It's like this thing can only be used once!"
(Great.)
Lukas: "Well, now what do we do?!"
Jesse: "You guys stay there, okay? We'll head down and see what we can find! You guys just try and find a way to break through, okay?"
Olivia: "Fine... but don't get lost, okay?!"
Jesse: "Yeah, we'll try!"
(I look over to Soren.)
Soren: "sigh" Let's see what other crazy shit Ivor has stored down here."
(With a slightly less motivated face than before, Soren leads the way down with a torch in hand.)
(The flight of stairs was shorter than expected, however, and it wasn't long until we reached a dimly lit room.)
(Soren places the torch on the wall in hopes that it will shine a little bit better in the room.)
Jesse: "Whoa, what is all this?"
Soren: "Incredible! He's gathered them all in one place!"
Jesse: "Gathered... what, exactly?"
Soren: "The treasures of the Order of the Stone!"
(Walking to the other end of the room, surely enough, we encounter 5 small pillars with some sort of artifacts sitting on top of them.)
Soren: "The stories I could tell about these dusty old things..."
Jesse: "But none of those are enchanting books though..."
Soren: "Maybe it's in another secret room? Ivor would be the kind of guy to
build a secret room hidden behind another secret room."
Jesse: "*sigh* Don't tell me we have to check every wall if there's another secret passageway hidden behind it, right?"
Soren: "No, just like with that fire-lavaplace, there's probably another hidden contraption somewhere, and I'm guessing it has something to do with these items."
Jesse: "*sigh* Don't tell me we have to do a puzzle..."
Soren: "Sadly, Ivor loves creating puzzles..."
(I've let out so many sighs already that this one didn't even sound like one.)
Jesse: "Let's just get this over with..."
[To be continued...]